Rassie Roulette: Predicting the Boks’ Lineup vs Los Pumas

Nicholas Halsey
Sep 21
3 min read

Every week, Springbok fans, Punt-its, enthusiasts, and opposition coaches alike are left scratching their heads, trying to decode the enigma that is Rassie Erasmus.

With the Rugby Championship heating up, the biggest puzzle now is who will wear the green and gold against Los Pumas in Durban this weekend (kick-off 17:10). Ronnie & I took a stab at it on the Pod this week which you can check out by clicking here.

When it comes to the pivotal positions, the questions keep piling up. At scrum-half, will it be Faf de Klerk, the experienced campaigner with nerves of steel and a proven big-game pedigree. Grant Williams, the young, lightning-quick operator capable of creating chaos for defenses. Cobus Reinach, whose calm, steady hand has guided teams under pressure in Europe? Each choice reflects a broader philosophy: do you trust experience, or gamble on raw energy and unpredictability?

Fly-half is another headache for Rassie. Handré Pollard brings world-class game management, tactical kicking, and the kind of composure that wins championships. Manie Libbok offers a more adventurous style, with clever footwork and an eye for line breaks. Then there’s Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, whose flair and instinct could inject moments of brilliance, but also carries the risk of inconsistency. The question is whether Rassie will opt for strategic certainty or gamble on spark.

The midfield sees even more permutations. Damian de Allende provides muscle, experience, and reliability in defence, while Jesse Kriel offers balance and tactical nous. Then you have combinations like Andre Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie, pairing experience with youthful energy, or the dual threat of Andre and Jesse Kriel, whose capabilities are mostly untested as a combination. Some might even consider Pollard at 12, combining game management with Jesse outside, or Moodie or even young Ethan Hooker, whose raw pace could exploit gaps in Argentina’s defence. Each scenario sparks debate: do you go with tried-and-tested partnerships or take a risk on fresh, unpredictable talent?

The broader theme is one Rassie has consistently toyed with: experience versus energy, age versus youth. Veteran players bring calmness under pressure, tactical intelligence, and the ability to control crucial moments in big matches. Youngsters, on the other hand, inject pace, unpredictability, and boldness... qualities that can turn a game on its head but also carry inherent risk. For a coach like Rassie, it’s a delicate balancing act. Too much reliance on experience can make the game predictable, too much trust in youth can backfire under pressure.

This weekend in Durban, the Bok faithful will watch with bated breath as Rassie makes his call. Will he lean on the seasoned campaigners, proven in big-game pressure, or hand the keys to the youngsters, hoping for a flash of brilliance that could swing a test in an instant like it did in Wellington just over a week ago.

The only safe bet is to expect the unexpected, to say ek weet nie and in Rassie we trust. The beauty, and frustration, of a Rassie-led Springbok side is that predicting the lineup can feel like a game of roulette. And come kick-off, Durban will be the stage where the next spin lands.

My predicted team for Round 5 v Los Pumas